Kim Hone-McMahan: A drug addict most of her adult life, woman graduates from UA today

Linda Siegel, 52, overcame drug addition, being jailed and a battle with breast cancer to graduate summa cum laude from the University of Akron with a bachelor's degree is social work. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)

Linda Siegel, 52, overcame drug addition, being jailed and a battle with breast cancer to graduate summa cum laude from the University of Akron with a bachelor's degree is social work. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)

Linda Siegel, 52, talks about overcoming drug addition, being jailed and a battle with breast cancer to graduate summa cum laude from the University of Akron with a bachelor's degree is social work. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)

Linda Siegel, 52, talks about overcoming drug addition, being jailed and a battle with breast cancer to graduate summa cum laude from the University of Akron with a bachelor's degree is social work. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)

Linda Siegel, 52, talks about overcoming drug addition, being jailed and a battle with breast cancer to graduate summa cum laude from the University of Akron with a bachelor's degree is social work. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)